WHITTIER – A Whittier woman is among more than 20 people accused of staging car crashes throughout the greater Los Angeles area in order to commit insurance fraud, officials announced Friday.

Nancy Carrera, 33, was arrested Jan. 6 on suspicion of insurance fraud and conspiracy and released the following day after posting $25,000 bail, according to Los Angeles County sheriff’s booking records.

She is suspected of taking part in an auto insurance ring that staged, and in many cases fabricated, car crashed to bilk insurers out of money, California Department of Insurance officials said in a written statement.

The alleged ring, which officials said was led by Norberto De Jesus Rivas, 38, of Stevenson Ranch, is estimated to have defrauded insurance companies out of more than $1 million, official said.

Rivas, who is already jailed on an unrelated charge, is accused of conspiring with Albert Lee Ingram, 62, of Valencia, who owns two Los Angeles-area clinics.

In addition to the 22 people already in custody in connection with the alleged fraud ring, three others are being sought, officials said.

“Fake collision claims or claims that have been inflated drives up the cost of insurance for all consumers,” CDI Commissioner Dave Jones said. “Individuals who collaborate in conspiracies to commit fraud and other criminal offenses will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”